THY MOURNING SHALL BE ENDED.

 

APRIL 28.
 
The days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Isaiah 60:20

 

HERE we have much to cause us to mourn.
 
The state of the world,
  and of the church.
 
Many things in the domestic circle.
 
The deep poverty of our own hearts.
 
Our evil tempers and passions.
 
The temptation and fiery darts of Satan.
 
The losses, crosses, and provide which
  we are called upon to endure.
 
The hiding of the Lord's face.
 
The want a brighter evidences.
 
Weakness in pain of body.
 
All these things conspire to make us sorrowful,
  so that with David we sometimes say,
    “I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly;
     I go mourning al the day long.”
 
But there is a bright prospect before us,
  our morning season will soon be over;
  if we now sow in tears,
    we shall reap in joy.
 
The days of our morning will soon be ended.
 
Then we shall have light without darkness,
  holiness without sin,
    joy without sorrow,
      service without toil,
       the eternal sunshine of our Father's love
           without one intervening cloud.
 
We shall soon shed the last tear,
  heave the last sigh,
    utter the last groan,
      expressed the last wish, and
       feel the last pain, and
then all beyond will be holiness,
  happiness, and perfect blessedness.
 

A few more days, or months or years,

In this dark desert to complain;

A few more sights, a few more tears,

And we shall bid adieu to pain!

 
James Smith 1849